Cathy
I learned that strength isn’t about doing everything alone. It’s about recognising when you need support and having the courage to ask for it.
As an Australian-born to Vietnamese parents, I had a choice to honour the cultural tradition of confinement, where mother and baby are homebound for 30-44 days post-birth or forge my own parenting style.
I’ve always been someone who strives for excellence and independence. So, when my mother-in-law came over daily to support us, I felt both gratitude and an unexpected loss of space within my own home, and within myself. In those early weeks, I found myself questioning my instincts, second-guessing simple decisions, and feeling disconnected from my own confidence as a mother.
What I didn’t realise at the time was that I was experiencing perinatal depression and anxiety. It showed up quietly but powerfully, clouding my sense of worth and making me feel small in a moment that was meant to feel expansive.
Through that experience, I began to understand the complexity of identity, the invisible weight many new parents carry, and the unique tensions that can exist within culturally diverse families. I learned that strength isn’t about doing everything alone. It’s about recognising when you need support and having the courage to ask for it.
Today, I carry that lesson with pride. I am not just a mother, but an advocate for honest conversations about mental health, cultural nuance, and the realities of modern parenthood. My story is no longer one of silence. It’s one of resilience, growth, and reclaiming my voice.